MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME FOLLOWING SUCCESSFUL THERAPY OF ACUTE PROMYELOCYTIC LEUKEMIA

We describe a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) who was successfully induced into remission with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA ) and idarubicin, but developed myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with mo nosomy 7 shortly after conclusion of maintenance therapy with idarubic in alternating with 6-mercaptopurine, vincristine, methotrexate and pr ednisone. Patients on combination regimens of ATRA or other retinoids and chemotherapy, which are being increasingly used in recent years, s hould be closely monitored for the development of potentially new comp lications including MDS.